USL Feature
Monday, March 5, 2012
BRADENTON, Fla. – The 2012 Super Y-League Girls ODP National Camp came to a close on Sunday at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. with many bright young stars hopeful they will make it to the next level. After an intense four days of training, teams were selected for the final scrimmages, with the 95/96 Selects Teams meeting the IMG
Academies Girls U-18 ’A’ and ’B’ squads.
Toronto Lady Lynx Juniors’ Hope Sabadash was one of those looking to make a name for herself.
"The girls are very talented," Sabadash said. "Everyone here is talented. It’s a great group of girls. It’s a higher level of talent.”
"The standard of all the girls was fantastic," said Coach Darren Wynne of Empire United Soccer Academies in upstate New York. "Their professionalism; their attitude towards playing was great as well."
It wasn’t just talent but also the belief that you can make notes Wynne, which is exactly what he told his group before they departed to their clubs across the United States and Canada.
"Hey, you can play here at the National team if you actually perform," Wynne said. "And it’s a great opportunity for these girls to actually be here. It’s a great chance for them just to go take it."
Players not only had the chance to showcase their skills on the field but
off it as well. T4 Soccer, a leading soccer-performance assessment company, has developed a battery of sport-specific tests to evaluate players’ speed, agility, power, and aerobic and anaerobic endurance. Upon completion of the testing, player scores are uploaded to the T4 web-based system, enabling the Super Y-League ODP staff to efficiently analyze and compare the physical performance of players by age group. According to USL National Technical Director, the players reaction to the testing put in place was a positive one.
"One of the biggest hits was the T4 testing," said Mellor." "That went really well. The girls enjoyed it even though it’s very, very hard work. But again, I think they’re starting that testing is becoming an integral part of the game."
A strong contingency of talented young Canadians impressed Mellor and the other coaches, "This year has been an extremely successful year for the Canadian players that have come to camp. Last week [at] the boys [ODP] program the top goalkeeper was Canadian. Some great Canadian players made the allstar teams. And here we are again today with the allstar A-team, the older ages, with a Canadian goalkeeper making the number one spot. And the best player on the field
in the camp is a Canadian."
With both the U.S. and Canadian Women’s National Teams getting set for this summer’s Olympic tournament, USL’s Women’s Super Y-League ODP program is looking for the next wave of national team players. Sabadash is looking to take her game to that level.
"Personally, I want an athletic scholarship somewhere in the U.S. And hopefully get on the [Canadian] National team." This determination and
self-belief is exactly what coaches are looking for.
Mellor added, "We were very, very lucky yesterday to have one of the ex-players come in from the U.S. Women’s National Team, Danielle Fotopolous, and she spoke to the whole group in regard to what it took
for her to make the national team."
Players selected to attend the camp were identified as the top players in their birth year and among the top two percent of players in the Super Y-League. The ODP Program is a crucial component of the USL Super Y-League, offering the best players from the U13 to U17 age groups a chance to receive top-quality coaching and the opportunity to be scouted by U.S. National Team and college coaches.